Electrical cord dispenser



April 1967 3. D. THOMPSON ELECTRICAL CORD DISPENSER Filed Feb. 13, 1964 //v VE/VTOP GER/41.0 0, 72 0/2 50 5? flrrap/vA-"s s United States Patent 3,316,361 ELECTRICAL CORD DISPENSER Gerald D. Thompson, Grimes, Iowa 50111 Filed Feb. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 344,584 6 Claims. (Cl. 19112.4)

This invention relates to a dispenser for electrical cords. Electrical cords are widely used for a variety of purposes. A problem which exists in the use of these cords is that they always seem to find a hiding place between periods of use and cannot be found when needed. Another problem encountered in the usage of electrical cords is that they frequently become tangled when not in use and must be straightened before being used.

Therefore, a principal object of this invention is to provide an electrical cord dispenser which permits an electrical cord to be conveniently stored therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electrical cord dispenser which prevents the cord from becoming tangled.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electrical cord dispenser which is readily accessible.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electrical cord dispenser which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device secured to a wall;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the device;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the device;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the device;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the device as seen on line 5-5 of FIG. 4, at an enlarged scale;

FIG. 6 is an exploded, perspective View 0 fthe device; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the device as seen on line 7-7 of FIG. 5, at an enlarged scale.

The numeral 10 generally designates an ordinary electrical outlet secured to wall 11'. A housing 13 having a back cover 15 and a front cover 17 is detachably mounted on outlet 10 by means of bracket 19 slidably embracing outlet 10. Back cover 15 is comprised of a circular wall portion 21 having a circular flange 23 extending outwardly and forwardly therefrom. A hollow cylinder 25 is secured to the forward surface of wall 21 by welding or any convenient means and extends forwardly at a right angle therefrom. A hollow cylinder 27 slidably, rotatably extends rearwardly into the open end of cylinder 25 and has a portion of its length protruding from the forward end of cylinder 25. The forward end of cylinder 27 is provided with an external threaded portion 29. A circular spring housing 31 is secured to cylinder 27 by welding or any convenient means and is comprised of a wall portion 33 and flange portion 35 extending outwardly and forwardly therefrom as illustrated in FIG. 5. A spiral spring 37 is mounted within spring housing 31 and embraces cylinder 27. Spring 37 has its inner end 39 secured to cylinder 27 by any convenientmeans. A flat circular plate 41 having slots 43 formed therein rotatably embraces cylinder 27 within spring housing 31 and is operatively connected to outer end 45 of spring 37 by means of outer end 45 protruding through slot 47. Front cover 17 rotatably embraces cylinder 27 and is maintained thereon by means of nuts 49 and 51. Front cover 17 is comprised of a circular wall portion 53 having a flange 3,3 1 6,36 1 Patented Apr. 25, 1 967 portion 57 extending outwardly and rearwardly therefrom and embracing the forward end portion of flange 23 of back cover 15 as shown inFIG. 5. Wall 53 has a plurality of protrusions 59 secured thereto which extend rearwardly from the rearward surface therefrom and are adapted to engage slots 43.

A brake means 61 comprised of a cylinder 63, which is rotatably embraced by cylinder 27, and a shoe member 65 threadably secured to the forward end thereof. Shoe member 65 may be constructed of a spring steel material if so desired. The periphery of shoe member 65 has a layer of felt 67 secured thereto. The rearward end of cylinder 63 has a bore 69 extending therein transverse to the longitudinal axis of cylinder 63. A groove 71 extends inwardly into cylinder 63 transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof. Groove 71 communicates with bore 69 at a right angle thereto. Cam 73 is mounted in groove 71 and is held therein by the beveled inner end 75 of a spring loaded plunger 77 which extends through hole 79 in back cover 15, hole 81 in cylinder 25, hole 83 in cylinder 27, and in bore 69 of cylinder 63. An electrical cord 85 extends inwardly into front cover 17 through hole 87 and is wrapped around cylinder 25 rearwardly of spring housing 31. The male end of cord 85 is plugged into receptacle 91 which is in turn plugged into outlet 10 by extending prongs through holes 93 in wall 21.

The device, with the exception of shoe 65 and spring 37, may be constructed of any suitable material. If the device is constructed of plastic, the Various weldments referred to above obviously would be replaced by glue or other suitable material.

The normal method of operation is as follows: Cord 85 is dispensed from housing 13 by rotating plunger 77 in a clockwise direction. The beveled inner end 75 of plunger 77, which is engaging cam 73" as illustrated in FIG. 7, causes cam 73 to likewise rotate and it in turn causes cylinder 63 to move longitudinally forward. Shoe 65 which is secured to the forward end of cylinder 63 moves forwardly with cylinder 63 and the felt members 67 are disengaged from the outer surface of front cover 17. Cord 85 is then pulled outwardly from housing 13 until the desired length is obtained. As cord 85 is pulled outwardly through hole 87, front cover 17 will rotate about cylinder 27. The rotation of front cover 17 imparts rotation to plate 41 by protrusions 59 engaging slots 43. Rotation of plate 41 causes spring 37 to be tightened as the outer end 45 of spring 37 extends through slot 47 of plate 41 and is thereby operatively connected. Therefore, as cord 85 is withdrawn from housing 13 spring 37 will be tightened. Cord 85 is locked at its desired length by rotating plunger 77 in a counter-clockwise direction. This rotation causes cylinder 63 to move rearwardly as depicted in FIG. 7 until felt 67 of shoe 65 engages the outer surface of front cover 17 and thereby prevents front cover 17 from rotating. Cord 85 is then plugged into the desired appliance. When cord 85 is no longer needed, plunger 77 is again rotated in a clockwise direction. Shoe 65 is thereby released and the tension of spring 37 will cause cord 85 to be returned within housing 13 to the position shown in FIG. 2. The cord will be conveniently available at all times.

While an electrical cord 85 has been described as being dispensed from housing 13, the device could be 'used with equal success for clotheslines, garden hoses, fishing lines, etc. Thus, from the foregoing, it can be seen that the device will accomplish at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my electrical cord dispenser without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In an electrical cord dispenser, comprising in combination,

an electrical outlet,

a housing being comprised of a stationary back cover secured to said outlet and a front cover with a hole therein rotatably mounted on said back cover,

a first elongated hollow cylinder rigidly secured to said back cover and extending forwardly therefrom,

an electric cord having one end outside said front covering and the other end extending through said hole and wrapping around said first cylinder, whereupon the rotation of said front cover about said first cylinder causes said cord to wind around said first cylinder,

a means for operatively connecting said other end of said cord to said electrical outlet,

a spring means in said housing for yieldably holding said front cover in a position Where said cord is fully wound around said first cylinder,

a brake means being movable within said housing from a first position in engagement with said front cover for prohibiting its rotational movement to a second position out of engagement with said front cover for allowing its free rotational movement, and

a plunger having means for moving said brake means between said first position and said second position and for holding said brake means in said first and said second positions.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said back cover is comprised of a wall portion having a curved flange extending outwardly and forwardly therefrom, and said front cover is comprised of a wall portion having a curved flange extending outwardly and rearwardly therefrom.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein a second hollow 3 cylinder has a portion of its length slidably, rotatably embraced by said first cylinder, said second cylinder having a spring housing secured thereto intermediate its length, said spring means being in said spring housing and having one of its ends secured to said second cylinder and the other of its ends secured to said front cover.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said brake means is comprised of a third elongated cylinder slidably, rotatably mounted in said second cylinder and a shoe member threadably secured to the forward end thereof and engaging the forward surface of said front cover at times.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first cylinder has a hole adjacent its rearward end, a second cylinder is slidably rotatably embraced by said first cylinder, said second cylinder having a hole adjacent its rearward end corresponding with said hole of said first cylinder; a third cylinder slidably, rotatably inserted in said second cylinder and having a groove in its rearward end corresponding with said holes in said first and second cylinders; and said spring loaded plunger extends through said back cover, said hole in said first cylinder, said hole in said second cylinder and said groove in said third cylinder.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein a bracket means is mounted on the rearward side of said back cover and is embracing said electrical outlet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 973,553 10/1910 Peacock. 994,292 6/ 1911 Williamson. 2,007,699 7/1935 Wiebking 191-12.4 2,470,320 5/1949 Page 19112 2,979,576 4/1961 Huber 191--12.4 3,056,863 10/1962 Johnson l9112.4

r ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. a STANLEY T. KRAWCZEVVICZ, Examiner. 

1. IN AN ELECTRICAL CORD DISPENSER, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET, A HOUSING BEING COMPRISED OF A STATIONARY BACK COVER SECURED TO SAID OUTLET AND A FRONT COVER WITH A HOLE THEREIN ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BACK COVER, A FIRST ELONGATED HOLLOW CYLINDER RIGIDLY SECURED TO SAID BACK COVER AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY THEREFROM, AN ELECTRIC CORD HAVING ONE END OUTSIDE SAID FRONT COVERING AND THE OTHER END EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HOLE AND WRAPPING AROUND SAID FIRST CYLINDER, WHEREUPON THE ROTATION OF SAID FRONT COVER ABOUT SAID FIRST CYLINDER CAUSES SAID CORD TO WIND AROUND SAID FIRST CYLINDER, A MEANS FOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID OTHER END OF SAID CORD TO SAID ELECTRICAL OUTLET, 